With a layout that perfectly mimics the action of a typical land-based game, it’s difficult to overstate the extent to which using an Eagle Bucks slot machine on the web feels like sitting down at a cabinet in a bricks and mortar casino.

Produced by Ainsworth, now releasing its titles under the Microgaming umbrella, this slot is surprisingly American for a game from an Australian company. Of course, there’s no reason why that shouldn’t be the case – after all, Gonzo’s Quest wasn’t produced by conquistadors!

20 paylines, a pretty traditional bonus round and a (high) fixed Eagle Bucks jackpot means there’s nothing really unexpected here. For players who like to know what they’re getting that’ll be a blessing, but it might be a curse for players who thrive on being surprised.

9, 10, J, Q, K and A are all here, as in so many online slots, but you’ll also find deer, wolves, bison, rock formations and (of course!) the mighty eagle. The game’s graphics aren’t anything special – with the exception of the game’s titular eagle, there are no animations – but the game looks pretty good for its age.

Overall, we’d put it like this: Eagle Bucks’ graphics aren’t going to wow, especially compared with flashy 3D slots available in 2018, but they’re certainly not unpleasant to look at either.

One area in which the Eagle Bucks slot is a little out of the ordinary is its bonus round. Or perhaps we should say rounds plural, since there are two different (but comparable) bonus features. The first of these is a no frills round of 10 free spins with extra wilds, but no multiplier available.

If you’re a bit luckier, you’ll get a round of 10 free spins with the entire fifth reel held as a wild. Clearly, that gives a serious boost to your win potential. There’s really no reason to hope for anything other than the second of these two bonus rounds, and you’ll likely find yourself disappointed if you don’t get that wild fifth reel.

Considering the dated appearance of this slot you might expect a fairly low fixed jackpot like, say, £20,000. In fact, and we’re happy to report this for the sake of our Eagle Bucks online slot review, the game’s jackpot is considerably more than that. Granted, the odds of racking up 5 scatters in a single spin is low…but it’s doable.

The most important of our Eagle Bucks tips? We wouldn’t waste too much time chasing this jackpot, despite its high value, and would instead recommend cashing out once you’ve hit a bonus round. Between that and the win generated by 3 or more scatters, you’re bound to have a decent wad in your pocket after a round of free spins.

Thanks to its uncluttered, almost spacious feeling, playing area the Eagle Bucks online slot is a decent option if you’re looking for a game to play while you’re on the move. And because there’s not much in the way of flashy graphics or fancy animations, it isn’t too demanding either.

With its outdoorsy theme, banjo music and sunset backdrop, this feels like a game that could very well be best enjoyed on a summer evening by a lake. Perhaps with your smartphone in one hand, and a cold American beer in the other!

The truth of the matter is that Eagle Bucks is, as many comparable nature themed slots like Wolf Moon and the original Buffalo are, starting to show its age. There are games out there with better bonus rounds and higher jackpots that have more modern graphics to boot.

However, what this game does really well is emulate land-based slots – not surprising, since Ainsworth is best known for producing slots for offline casinos – that many players will have tried in Las Vegas, Atlantic City or brick and mortar venues elsewhere. If that’s the experience you’re looking for, then our micro Eagle Bucks review is that this isn’t a bad choice at all.